Don drove into the busy Walmart parking lot at 9:30 at night. He realized the news on television today had it right. The public is panicked in fear of shortages of medicines and even food. They are quarantined from work, from school - The government itself is panicked.
Don slammed his brakes nearly hitting an old man desperately shoving his cart to escape.
After parking, Don put his protective face mask on, then his glasses and latex gloves that were left over from his dental practice when he retired.
Walking toward the entrance, Don noticed two high school girls approaching him as they stared at his protective garb. They then veered away starting to giggle.
Once inside he was startled so see all bread, eggs and toilet paper were gone. He hustled throughout the store buying what was still available.
At the checkout, Don patiently waited behind three boisterous, young-motorcycle-bikers. The large leader sneered at Don and yelled, “Hey old man! Don’t you know powdered donuts will rot your teeth?”
The hulk of a leader turned and got up in Don’s face, “Maybe I should take those donuts away from you!”
Don set his jaw and leaned forward with fierce eyes to meet the biker’s startled face, “Maybe instead, you should call your mother. I bet you haven’t been a man and told her that you love her want to help her so she won’t need to be afraid.”
Caught off guard, the biker stepped back just as a muscular black Walmart employee stepped in between Don and the biker. Good evening Dr. Marler...Please allow me to check you out so that you can be on your way. These gentlemen won’t mind.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Barker.”
The gang members silently stepped to the side and watched Dr. Marler being checked out. Then Lieutenant Barker pushed Dr. Marler’s cart outside.
Crossing the parking lot, Lieutenant Barker said, “Judy told me while I was in Afghanistan on active duty, you were caring for my family’s teeth. You let her pay whenever she could. I explained to her that you were a Marine too.”
Dr. Marler nodded.
Lieutenant Barker continued, “I wanted to thank you in person, Sir. Semper Fi!”
Don slammed his brakes nearly hitting an old man desperately shoving his cart to escape.
After parking, Don put his protective face mask on, then his glasses and latex gloves that were left over from his dental practice when he retired.
Walking toward the entrance, Don noticed two high school girls approaching him as they stared at his protective garb. They then veered away starting to giggle.
Once inside he was startled so see all bread, eggs and toilet paper were gone. He hustled throughout the store buying what was still available.
At the checkout, Don patiently waited behind three boisterous, young-motorcycle-bikers. The large leader sneered at Don and yelled, “Hey old man! Don’t you know powdered donuts will rot your teeth?”
The hulk of a leader turned and got up in Don’s face, “Maybe I should take those donuts away from you!”
Don set his jaw and leaned forward with fierce eyes to meet the biker’s startled face, “Maybe instead, you should call your mother. I bet you haven’t been a man and told her that you love her want to help her so she won’t need to be afraid.”
Caught off guard, the biker stepped back just as a muscular black Walmart employee stepped in between Don and the biker. Good evening Dr. Marler...Please allow me to check you out so that you can be on your way. These gentlemen won’t mind.”
“Thank you, Lieutenant Barker.”
The gang members silently stepped to the side and watched Dr. Marler being checked out. Then Lieutenant Barker pushed Dr. Marler’s cart outside.
Crossing the parking lot, Lieutenant Barker said, “Judy told me while I was in Afghanistan on active duty, you were caring for my family’s teeth. You let her pay whenever she could. I explained to her that you were a Marine too.”
Dr. Marler nodded.
Lieutenant Barker continued, “I wanted to thank you in person, Sir. Semper Fi!”
On-line Read Around
The previous post of 3/23/2020 announced an on-line read around for this site beginning March 30, which is today. I have received two entries, posted below. This will be an ongoing challenge as we all “stay home” because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Here are the rules:
~ Connie White, President, KAC District 5
The previous post of 3/23/2020 announced an on-line read around for this site beginning March 30, which is today. I have received two entries, posted below. This will be an ongoing challenge as we all “stay home” because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Here are the rules:
- 500-word limit, any genre.
- E-mail your entry as an attachment to Connie Rae White ([email protected]).
- I will post the entries to this District 5 News and Events page for the read around.
- If readers wish to comment, please email the author personally. Comments should not be addressed to the District 5 site. If you would like your comment posted, CC Connie Rae on your comment, and I may consider posting an occasional valuable or interesting comment.
~ Connie White, President, KAC District 5